Saturday, April 29, 2017

Rally for Jose Luis Sanchez-Ronquillo held at Bach Elementary in Ann Arbor Friday.

A rally was held on Friday, April 28, 2017, for Jose Luis Sanchez-Ronquillo at Bach Elementary in Ann Arbor. Jose Luis, an Ann Arbor resident and father, was detained by ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) Wednesday, April 19, while checking in with immigration officials, as was his routine. Luis, who has lived in Ann Arbor for 18 years, has two children who attend Ann Arbor Public Schools and is married. Luis has one child who attends Bach Elementary on Ann Arbor's West Side, while the other attends Pioneer High School. Jose Luis has worked at a local restaurant for many years.

According to a statement last week by WICIR (Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition For Immigrant Rights) ICE will likely deport Jose Luis next week and are asking the community to, "Call or email your senators asking them to pressure ICE to grant a stay of removal to Jose Luis."

Organizers of Friday's rally and mach are hoping that through the community uniting their voices in support of Luis, his outcome can be changed. Roughly 75 people, including many children, participated in the march and rally that gathered in the playground of Bach Elementary.

The pre-march rally featured several speakers including Bach Elementary Principal Alison Epler and and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. Several participants in the rally were moved to tears as the speakers shared their feelings regarding what they see as the injustices immigrants are facing today in the U.S. in the wake of Trump's election.

Amid chants of, "Say it Loud, Say It Clear, Immigrants Are Welcome Here", Mayor Christopher Taylor stated during the rally, "We in Ann Arbor value everyone in the community. We know that deportation will not make America safe. We have to support the family."

After the half hour long rally, participants, including many children, marched from the Bach Elementary playground and onto the sidewalks of Ann Arbor's West Side neighborhood.

Also participating in the rally was Ann Arbor State Representative Yousef Rabhi.